//------------------------------// // Chapter 20: Stormy Air On The Horizon // Story: Attack on Titan: Friendship is Freedom // by Gidano90 //------------------------------// After the long-awaited lunch, prepared with good patience by Applejack's grandmother, those present had decided to spend their free time chatting over and over. The ponies and the little dragon, Spike who owed Elias his salvation, treated the boy like a long-time friend and not someone he met only that morning, during unpleasant circumstances. During Spike's long and loud laugh, an involuntary fiery regurgitation almost burned the hair of poor Fluttershy, who hastened to change places in a few seconds. Elias's bulging eyes towards what was happening betrayed his fake normal behavior, as if he were used to all those strangenesses in the world he had been catapulted into. In a few seconds, among Twilight's hooves, a letter from the royal crest. Enthusiasm died down. It was not good news. Princess Celestia had replied to her student that, before, she had written a letter to the sovereign telling the strange events that involved the monsters that had frightened the inhabitants of Equestria. Celestia, therefore, had considered it appropriate to warn her of the decision she had taken: The girls who held the elements of harmony, at dawn, would leave again for Canterlot. The monarch of the sun was waiting for them. A carriage would have been sent to escort them there. The panic settled in the comfortable and rustic room where everyone was present. General thoughts turned to every possible negative conclusion. That those monsters were an omen of something even more dangerous? No one could give an answer so they simply decided, in a bad mood, to prepare for the tiring day ahead. Elias, with the experience of a soldier weighing on his shoulders, realized that something big was about to happen, so he firmly decided to accompany his new friends the following day. Despite the claims of the ponies on making him stay in Ponyville after a well-earned rest, he remained of his opinions. Twilight sent a letter to her teacher to confirm it all. Elias got up from his seat, because, according to his opinion, he had been sitting for too long without stretching his legs. He approached one of the windows and looked far away, beyond the hills, at the green and the cloudless sky. Far almost to his district, to his city surrounded by walls, to the creak of soldiers' boots. He snorted. He turned to the girls. "What is the plan now?" "Given that we have to leave tomorrow at the first light of dawn, I think it would be better to take advantage of today's day to conclude our personal affairs. The urgency of Princess Celestia to see us makes us understand that it is unlikely that we will return to Ponyville very soon. We'll meet again at dinner time here. What do you think? " Everyone nodded at Sunset's proposal. "We must warn the mayor to cancel the party in our honor." Twilight reminded everyone "The party ?! No! Do we really have to ?! We'll leave tomorrow, not tonight! We could miss it for a long time." Pinkie jumped off her chair, pouting and angry. She saw no reason to cancel the party. "Don't be sad Pinkie, when all this is over you'll be able to organize the biggest and most beautiful party for me and Sunset that no pony has ever seen. Sunset and I can't wait to participate. Isn't it Sunset?" Elias said looking at his friend, at that moment from the other side of the room. "It's true, Elias. So Pinkie has just a little patience. Let's solve this so we can participate in the party you promised." Sunset added. Pinkie at the words of his friends immediately returned in a good mood and promised Sunset and Elias that she would organize the most beautiful party they had ever seen. "Okay everypony, then we meet again here all tonight, so tomorrow we can leave right away without wasting too much time." Twilight said, heading for the door already, so as not to waste precious time. Everyone greeted each other and each took his own way. Applejack was lucky enough not to have to move because she was already on the farm. She helped her family members with the agricultural tasks they were entitled to, to prepare the house to welcome the guests who would come that evening and, in moments of tranquility, she told how that young cadet had joined their group. Rarity, accompanied as always by her little sister Sweetie Belle, returned to the Carousel Boutique, tailoring but at the same time home of the two unicorns. Rarity, far-sighted, had taken advantage of the brief moment of tranquility at Applejack's farm to get Elias's measurements so he could make new custom-made clothes. His stay would have been long, he could not live wearing only a pair of clothes. So she decided to make him new ones, including military uniforms among them. On the latter, however, the unicorn decided to make a small change from the main one, exploiting the information learned from the young friend. Rainbow Dash, after taking Scootaloo home, headed for the climate control team. After carrying out her daily tasks, she advised her colleagues that she would be missing and that she did not know for how long. While waiting for dinner time, she decided to train in her stunts. Fluttershy returned to her cottage, taking care of the sweet animals she cared for. She would have been away for a long time, had to supply them with food, care, water and everything that could serve them during her absence. She also asked one of her dear friends, Tree Hugger, to come and visit them from time to time. Pinkie had returned to the Sugarcube Corner, full of hungry ponies as usual. Before leaving she wanted to take one last turn and say goodbye to the ponies who ran the place. For her they were like a family. And between one order and another, the pink pony organized in her head the wonderful party for Sunset and Elias. Twilight, Spike and Sunset, finally, with Elias on his heels, returned to the library. There were many chores to do there but, first of all, there was the task of entrusting a bed to Elias who, from that day onwards, would become their roommate. "We have an extra room," said Sunset, climbing the long staircase that led to their dormitories. "It's a bit small, but we'll work on it" Twilight said, exchanging a look of understanding with her friend. Were they laughing under their mustaches? Elias understood this only when they passed through the door of his alleged room. The saliva dried up. Was he too rough to say what he thought? "Er .. Thank you girls but .. I think I won't go in here" The ponies burst out laughing at the boy's disoriented face. In front of them a bed so small that, not even curled up, for Elias there was hope to enter. "We said we would work on" Disse Twilight "O We could just let him sleep on the floor" Sunset teased him "Do not be evil!" Elias joined in the laughter, which stopped when, in a few minutes and with a few sparks in the air, the bed became big enough to accommodate the boy. "Wow. I want one too" Elias pointed to the magic horn of the purple pony. Later, when the sun was down, the group found themselves again in front of the farm entrance that had welcomed them that morning. Elias, yawning because of the nap, found himself thinking that, whatever they would have to face, it wouldn't have been so scary if it was to help her friends. Applejack, as a good hostess, had the guests seated in the dining room as dinner would soon be served. Taking advantage of the wait, Rarity decided to give Elias new clothes including the new uniforms. The young cadet warmly thanked the seamstress with the white coat, but when she was about to take out the money to be able to repay the work she had done, the white unicorn refused the money with absolute determination. "You owe me absolutely nothing, Elias. Consider these clothes as a welcome gift and above all as thanks for helping us this morning. Come on, why don't you at least try on the uniforms and show me how they fit?" Elias was literally speechless in the face of Rarity's generosity. Then he decided to satisfy her request and try on the uniforms. One thing the cadet immediately noticed was the emblem engraved on the jacket: instead of the symbol of the cadets there was the effigy of the Wings of Freedom but with a slight modification, around the wings there were rose petals, as if they were twirling around them. "I hope you like it, Elias. I based myself on what you told us and thought I'd sew a uniform that from a certain point of view reflects what you are." "What am I?" Elias asked, confused by Rarity's statement. "A dreamer." The white unicorn replied. "A dreamer? Forgive me Rarity, but I can't follow you." The soldier said even more confused than before. "See Elias, you told us that you come from a cruel and violent world because of the Titans who invaded it, and that humanity is facing a terrible crisis. But despite everything you have not given up, you have found the strength of go ahead and the courage to face the cruelties that grip your world, but above all, you have found the strength to dream, to dream of a better future, and that is why you have decided to fight, so that you can realize your dream and do open the wings of freedom to humanity. That's why I wanted to put the wings that represent the division in which you want to enter. " Rarity said. "And the rose petals? Why did you add these petals?" He asked Elias in disbelief at the dressmaker's motivation for changing his uniform. "For your good soul." Fluttershy answered timidly. "What?" "See Elias, in a crisis situation, feelings like altruism, kindness and generosity are rare to find, especially when survival is at stake. But despite everything, even in unfavorable situations or where you had nothing to gain, you have always shown a noble and selfless heart Just think of when you defended your mother from the horrible words of Father Nick, putting your safety at risk by going against a high official of your society, or when you faced those bullies who were tormenting Eren and Armin. Not to mention that this morning, despite the fact that you literally found yourself in a world unknown to you, you didn't hesitate for a moment to help us both against Scarlett and against the monsters that had invaded Ponyville. but you have shown a pure and gentle heart because you have never acted with ulterior motives, and above all you have never wanted anything in return, and it is this that represents the rose petals. Isn't that true Rarity? "Fluttershy said, handing the question to the white unicorn. "Very true dear Fluttershy. I could not have used better words to describe our dear friend Elias." Rarity said smiling at her friend Pegasus. Elias was literally dumbfounded, flattered and touched by the high regard the ponies had towards him. "Do you really think all this? In short, we met only this morning and already you consider me as if I were your best friend." The astonished young cadet asked. "But you are our best friend, Elias. We have already told you. And yes, everything we said we really do think." Fluttershy replied with her characteristic gentle voice. Elias was left speechless. He didn't know how to behave or what to say in front of the words full of sweetness, kindness and admiration that his new friends were addressing to him. A thank you full of emotion came out of his lips. "Do you know now what it takes?" Pinkie Pie suddenly exclaimed. "A nice group hug!" and in less than a second, Elias and the ponies found themselves caught up in a super group hug. "Dinner is ready!" Applejack's grandmother screamed from the kitchen. "Hurray! And we didn't have to wait for three chapters this time!" Pinkie exclaimed joyously at the prospect of a nice Apple family meal. Elias had by now given up understanding the randomness of Pinkie's actions and sentences. He preferred to keep his sanity at normal levels, even though he was in a totally new world that would have made anyone crazy. So leaving aside randomness, he decided to join together with the little ponies at the dinner.